Tax deadline has come and gone, but you are like me and wading through unfiled papers; I have a great list of what you need to keep, how long you need to keep it for, and where you should put it!
Originals You Rarely Need should be in Safe-Deposit Boxes & Never Discarded.
Household Inventory: Lists and photos of your possessions (I use Evernote for this task. It is an amazing tool for many home organization projects.)
Divorce Decrees & Lawsuits: A copy should be given to your lawyer
Originals You May Need Occasionally should be kept in an In-Home Safe or Locked Cabinet and Kept.
Birth Certificates Death Certificates: Copy should be given to an Executor
Diplomas Health & Immunization Records
Marriage Certificates: Copy should be given to an Executor
Medical Directives: Copies should be given to both your heir and doctor
Real Estate Deeds: Keep 10 years after Sale
Tax/Financial Documents stored in Locked Cabinet for 7 years.
Bank and Credit Card Statements
Cancelled Checks
Home Purchase/Improvements
Tax Returns/Related Documents